Afghanistan Hammer New Zealand by 84 Runs in ‘Historic’ T20 World Cup Win

Afghanistan Hammer New Zealand by 84 Runs in ‘Historic’ T20 World Cup Win

Abu Dhabi: In a remarkable upset, Afghanistan stunned New Zealand by 84 runs in their Super 12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday.

Led by a scintillating bowling performance, Afghanistan bundled out the world champions for just 124 runs in the second innings. The victory marks a historic achievement for Afghanistan cricket, as it is their first ever win against New Zealand in T20Is.

Keywords:

Afghanistan
New Zealand
T20 World Cup
Upset
Bowling Performance

Match Summary:

Afghanistan’s bowlers were in exceptional form, led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/13) and Rashid Khan (2/19). They made incisive use of variations and spin bowling, which proved too difficult for the New Zealand batters to handle.

After a slow start, Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 124/8 on the board. Najibullah Zadran (41) and Mohammad Nabi (32) made valuable contributions.

In response, New Zealand’s chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost three wickets in the powerplay overs. Captain Kane Williamson (8) and opener Martin Guptill (13) both departed cheaply. The middle order failed to recover, as wickets continued to tumble regularly.

Significance:

The victory is a significant moment for Afghanistan cricket, as it boosts their confidence and puts them in contention for a place in the semi-finals. It also dents New Zealand’s hopes of topping the Super 12 Group 2.

For New Zealand, the loss is a major setback as they strive to defend their title. It highlights the unpredictable nature of the T20 format, where underdogs can emerge victorious against even the most feared opponents.